Debutant’s dream start for Magpies thrills boss
BRUCE PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS OF MIDFIELD STARLET AFTER HIS CUP CAMEO
STEVE Bruce has been “very pleased” with Elliot Anderson’s progress and the Newcastle United head coach hopes the youngster can do the Magpies “a good turn over the season2 after he made his first-team debut.
Anderson came on in the 81st minute of Newcastle’s FA Cup thirdround tie against Arsenal on Saturday night and certainly did not look out of place.
The 18-year-old midfielder glided around the pitch and caught the eye with a few nice touches at the Emirates as he held off international defenders many years older than him.
Anderson actually had a great chance to send Newcastle into the fourth round in the 91st minute but the Whitley Bay native’s close-range effort was blocked by Cedric Soares and Andy Carroll’s follow-up was dealt with by goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Newcastle may have ultimately lost the game 2-0 after extra-time but Anderson caught the eye on his debut – and you can bet Allan SaintMaximin was impressed.
Saint-Maximin, who was watching the game from af ar from afar as he recov recovers from the after-effects of COVID19, called the debutant a “crack”, which is an affectionate term given to a skilled footballer.
While Anderson will not have any further opportunities to play in the cups this season, the teenager looks set to remain in the first-team set-up after previously making the bench on three occasions.
Bruce said: “Well, I think you have seen it yourself, haven’t you?
“As soon as he comes on to the pitch, he accepts the ball and receives the ball. He never looks rushed. rushed Everything is effortless to him and easy. We hope he has a big future.
“He will remember his debut. He could have scored in the last minute, couldn’t he? What a wonderful debut that would have been.
“I am very pleased with his progress and he is one we hope can do us a good turn over the season.”
Newcastle have failed to win any of their last seven games in all competitions - although the Magpies have faced Manchester City, Liverpool, Leicester and Arsenal during that run. Bruce has taken positives from his side’s performance and how they have played a little higher up the field, which the Newcastle boss hopes p his players p take into tonight’s g game against basemen basement boys Sheffield United, who hav have not won a le league game all s season. He added: “The way they have gone about their w work has p pleased me en enormously after a ho horrible night at Brentfo Brentford and the four game games since we could not have asked for anything more difficult going to Manchester City and then having the champions and Leicester.
“It has been a very difficult run and it continues to be that way over the next week but that is the Premier League.
“I keep saying it. Every team has good players.
“We had the chance to get into the FA Cup’s next round – it was not to be. Let’s get ready for the next game and the next challenge ahead.”
He could have scored in the last minute, couldn’t he? What a wonderful debut that would have been
Steve Bruce